Web control apparatus

ABSTRACT

A web control apparatus for a carding machine has a pair of spaced guides, one on each side of the web, with means for positioning said guides in a first predetermined fixed outer position out of confining engagement with the web and in a second predetermined fixed inner position closely adjacent web delivery means condensing the web in a substantially T-shaped configuration for delivery to calender rolls, and power operated means moving the guides from the first position to the second position, so that fibers of a moving web may be condensed into a cohesive strand for delivery to the calender rolls.

United States Patent 91 Thomason, Jr.

- 1145] Oct. 15,1974

1 1 WEB CONTROL APPARATUS [22] Filed: Jan. 31, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 328,267

8/1943 Chantler 19/150 Primary Eraininr-Dorsey Newton Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bailey & Dority 5 7 ABSTRACT A web control apparatus for a carding machine has a pair of spaced guides, one on each side of the web, with means for positioning said guides in a first predetermined fixed outer position out of confining engagement with the web and in a second predetermined fixed inner position closely adjacent web delivery means condensing the web in a substantially T-shaped configuration for delivery to calender rolls, and power operated means moving the guides from the first position to the second position, so that fibers of a moving web may be condensed into a cohesive strand for delivery to the calender rolls.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATEN IEO [1H 1 51974 SHEEI 10F 2 WEB CONTROL APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for condensing a moving web disposed between the web delivery means and the calendar rolls of a carding machine wherein spaced guides are moved from a predetermined position out of condensing engagement with a moving web to a predetermined position for condensing the web by power operated means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lack of control of the fibers in the web delivered from the doffer of a carding machine to the calender rolls has always created problems. There is little cohesive force acting on the fibers to give any strength to the web. The web is subject to distortion from air currents and the loosely held fibers tend to separate from the web. The fibers then fall away or lap up on the doffer or delivery rolls.

In addition to the conventional trumpet, a variety of web condensors have been provided. For example, U.S. Letters Pat. No. 2,326,331 discloses manually adjustable guides acting on the selvages to guide a web of woolen fibers from a crushing machine to calender rolls preparatory to being applied to a succeeding carding machine. A variation of the conventional trumpet as applied with special calender rolls is illustrated in U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,304,583. The disclosures of the foregoing patents contemplate leaving the web .in substantially open width with the resulting susceptability to the adverse affects of air currents. Other web condensing devices contemplate relatively complex arrangements of driven belts for condensing the web closely adjacent the web delivery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It has been found that by providing means for positioning a guide'on each side of the web in a predetermined outer position and in a predetermined inner position closely adjacent the web delivery means with power operated means for moving the guides between outer and inner positions the web may be condensed in a substantially T-shaped configuration fo'ridelivery to the calender rolls. Such simple structure permits automatic operation with the web runninga The subject web control device guides the fibers of the web along the surface of the rolls or other delivery means. The interaction between the fibers gives cohesion and added strength to the web. This action prevents fibers from flying and falling away. The result is reduced ends down and improved quality.

It is important that the guides are move'able. The guides are in an outer position, preferaby entirely out of contact with the web, when the card is stopped or when an end is down. With the guides in a predetermined outer position the end can be put up in the normal way. Also, the web can be examined for various characteristics of appearance and content. The web guides are brought to a predetermined inner position in contact with the web by power operated means either actuated manually or automatically responsive t0.the stop motion and may be returned to outer position in a similar way. The power operated means automatically fixes the guides in one or the other predetermined position.

Use of the invention results in reduced ends down and improved evenness of the resultant strand as a result of improved fiber control. There is less possibility of distortion of the web from air currents.

There are fewer lap-ups-on crush rolls, delivery rolls, or dofferQThe effect of static disturbance on many types of fibers, particularly synthetic fibers of various types is reduced by providing greater cohesion to fibers, now possible only with chemical additives or by running heavier than normal sliver weights, excessive crimping of fibers is unnecessary. Cards may be run with minimum tension between doffer and calender rolls to reduce stretch.

There is less contamination of fly in the air and on machine parts and less sticking of foreign matter on the comb or take-offrolls, particularly from new crop cotton. By presenting fibers as a loose strand back of the calender rolls, electronic sensing for evenness control is made possible.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part therof, wherein an example of the invention is'shown and wherein:

FIG. ,1 is a perspective view illustrating schematically a carding machine equipped with web control apparatus constructed in accordance ,with an embodiment of the invention, v

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation, further illustrating an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view, with parts omitted, illustrating an embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating various pneumatic components. I l

The drawings illustrate web control apparatus for a carding machine interposed between web delivery means carried adjacent a doffer for delivering a web of fibers to a pair of calender rolls. A pair of spaced guides A are positioned one on each side of the web. Means B position the guides in a first predetermined fixed position out of. condensing-engagementwith the web, and position the guides in a second predetermined fixed position closely adjacent the web delivery means condensing the web in a substantially T-shaped configuration for delivery to the calender rolls. Power operated means C move the guides from the first position to the second position. Switch means D actuate the power op -v erated means with the web delivery means delivering the web to the calender rolls. Thus, the fibers of the web may be condensed into a cohesive strand for delivery to the calender rolls. Preferably, the power operated means includes a pneumatic cylinder. A stop motion may detect the presence or absence of a strand from the calender rolls and means may be provided positioning the switch means for actuation responsive to said stop motion.

A conventional cotton card is illustrated as including a cylinder 10 and doffer 11 carried within side frame members 12 and 13. Suitable web delivery means are illustrated in the form of crush rolls 14 although any other suitable delivery means including a conventional comb may be utilized. The web is delivered to any suitable sliver forming means which may includea standard trumpet 15 and calender rolls 16. The sliver formed thereby may then be delivered as to a coiler head to be deposited in a can.

A pair of spaced guides A are positioned one on each side of the web. The spaced guides A are preferably constructed of sheet metal forming a compound curve including a curved upper portion 17 tapering downwardly and inwardly presenting a concave inner surface 18 to the web. The curved surface 18 extends downwardly and inwardly forming a substantially horizontal base 19. The base portion 19 of each of the guides has an opening therein to accommodate a vertically threaded guide rod 20 which receives a nut 21 for positioning the guides as described in greater detail below.

While the guides are illustrated as being of a specific shape, it should be noted that they may assume a variety of configurations. It appears important, however, that the curved surface presented to the web be of sufficient extent to present a gently curved guiding surface to the web so as not to tear the fragile web while it is being condensed.

Means B position the guides in a first predetermined fixed position out of condensing relation with the web W, and position the guides in a second predetermined fixed position closely adjacent the web delivery means condensing the webW in a substantially T-shaped configuration between the doffer guides A and between the guides and the calender rolls substantially as shown in FIG. I. Themeans B include a pair of substantially C- sh'aped brackets 22 and 23 and the piston rods 24 and 25 respectively together with associated parts. Guide mounts 22 and 23 are positioned for controlled sliding movement in a trackway which includes a pair of tracks 26 and 27 which guide the guide mounts 22 and 23 respectively so that upper legs 22a and 23a remain horizontal for presenting the guides A at the proper altitude to the web W.

Power operated means C move the guides from the first position illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 3 to a second position as illustrated in solid lines in F168. 1 and 3. Power operated means C includes a pair'of cylinders 28 and 29 respectively. The cylinder 28 has a base 30, while the cylinder 29 has a base 31. The cylinder 28 has a cylinder head 32 similar to its'base 30 while the cylinder 29 has a cylinder head 33 similar to its base .31. The top and bottom casings which form the tracks 26 and 27 FIG. 2) are provided in the form of opposed channel shaped members 34 and-35 within which the cylinders are supported and together with which an assembly is formed by-attaching the casings'to the respective end cylinder heads as by screws 36 maintaining the top and bottom casings in parallel relationship by virtue of the alignment of the respective cylinder bases and cylinder heads.

A pair of opposed brackets 37 are fastened to the side frame members 12 and 13 respectively and to respective cylinder bases as by any suitable fastening means such as screws (not shown) passing through holes 38. The switch means D actuates the power operated means while the web is being delivered to the calender rolls. The switch means D is preferably provided in the form of a sensor valve which serves a similar function in the air operated means illustrated to the micro switch of an electrical circuit. In the example illustrated the sensor valve is a pneumatic valve capable of performing its function with the other air operated components illustrated.

ln FIG. 1 sliver S after passing through the calender rolls is illustrated as being taken up by the coiler head 39 and delivered into the can 39a.

FIG. 4 illustrates a pneumatic diagram wherein a supply'40 supplies compressed air to a suitable four-way valve 41. It will be noted that the four-way valve 41 supplies air to either end of respective cylinders selectively through the lines 42 and 43. A suitable flow control valve 44 is iilustrated as being provided at each end of each cylinder. The sensor valve D may be overridden by the toggle valve 45 which is provided in line therewith. The sensor valve is illustrated schematically as being operated by means of the pivoted counterweighted arm 46 which carries a sliver engaging portion 47. The extended engaging portion rests against the sliver and when tension is placed therein as the sliver is being run between the calender rolls and the coiler head the resulting tension in the sliver causes the arm 46 to be pivoted engaginga lever 48 of the sensing valve B.

If there is no stop motion provided any suitable sliver actuating means may be provided for actuating the switch D. It is significant that there are no rotating parts required'on the subject device since lint tends to accumulate on such bearing surfaces causing maintenance problems. Any suitable power operated means such as linkage means may be used in lieu of the pneumatic cylinder illustrated. if it is desired to take web. samples the toggle switch 45 may be actuated to override the sensor valve moving the guides A to outer position returning the web to full width. Suction cleaners may be used adjacentthe web delivery of cards equipped according to the invention since the condensed web is capable of resisting the adverse effects of the air currents created thereby.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. ln a'carding machine having a web delivery means carried adjacent a doffer and roll means receiving the web therefrom, the improvement comprising a web control apparatus interposed between said web deliv ery means and said roll means including:

A. a pair of spaced guides; one on'eachside of the m a I I r B. means positioning said guides in a first'predetermined fixed position out of condensing engagement with the web;

C. means positioning said guides in a second predetermined fixed positionclosely' adjacent said web delivery means, said roll means pulling the web through the guides condensing said web in a substantially T-shaped configuration;

D. power operated means moving said guides from said first position to said second position; and

E. switch means for actuating said power operated means delivering said web;

whereby the fibers of said web may be condensed into a cohesive strand.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said carding machine has sliver forming means receiving said cohesive strand and including means actuating said switch means responsive to said sliver.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said power operated means includes a pneumatic cylinder.

4, The structure set forth in claim 1 including, a stop motion detecting the presence or absence of a strand from said calender rolls, and means positioning said switch means for actuation responsive to said stop motion 5. A web control apparatus for a carding machine receiving a web from web delivery means for delivery to sliver forming means comprising:

A. a trackway disposed transversely of said web closely adjacent said web delivery means;

B. a pair of spaced guides, one on each side of the web, carried on said trackway;

C. means positioning said guides in a first predetermined outer fixed position on said trackway out of condensing engagement with the web;

D. means positioning said guides in a second predetermined inner fixed position on said trackway condensing said web in a substantially T-shaped configuration for delivery to the sliver forming means; and

E. poweroperated means moving said guides from said outer position to said inner second position.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein said power operated means includes a pneumatic cylinder and piston and wherein said means positioning said guides in a first position and in a second position includes a piston rod.

7. The structure set forth in claim 5 including, means actuating said power operated means responsive to said sliver. 

1. In a carding machine having a web delivery means carried adjacent a doffer and roll means receiving the web therefrom, the improvement comprising a web control apparatus interposed between said web delivery means and said roll means including: A. a pair of spaced guides; one on each side of the web; B. means positioning said guides in a first predetermined fixed position out of condensing engagement with the web; C. means positioning said guides in a second predetermined fixed position closely adjacent said web delivery means, said roll means pulling the web through the guides condensing said web in a substantially T-shaped configuration; D. power operated means moving said guides from said first position to said second position; and E. switch means for actuating said power operated means delivering said web; whereby the fibers of said web may be condensed into a cohesive strand.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said carding machine has sliver forming means receiving said cohesive strand and including means actuating said switch means responsive to said sliver.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said power operated means includes a pneumatic cylinder.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 1 including, a stop motion detecting the presence or absence of a strand from said calender rolls, and means positioning said switch means for actuation responsive to said stop motion.
 5. A web control apparatus for a carding machine receiving a web from web delivery means for delivery to sliver forming means comprising: A. a trackway disposed transversely of said web closely adjacent said web delivery means; B. a pair of spaced guides, one on each side of the web, carried on said trackway; C. means positioning said guides in a first predetermined outer fixed position on said trackway out of condensing engagement with the web; D. means positioning said guides in a second predetermined inner fixed position on said trackway condensing said web in a substantially T-shaped configuration for delivery to the sliver forming means; and E. power operated means moving said guides from said outer position to said inner second position.
 6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein said power operated means includes a pneumatic cylinder and piston and wherein said means positioning said guides in a first position and in a second position includes a piston rod.
 7. The structure set forth in claim 5 including, means actuating said power operated means responsive to said sliver. 